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Google launches AI voice chat in Search app for Android and iOS

Google has started rolling out its new ‘Search Live in AI Mode’ for the Google app on Android and iOS, offering users the ability to have seamless voice-based conversations with Search.

Currently available only in the US for those signed up to the AI Mode experiment in Labs, the feature was previewed at last month’s Google I/O conference.

The tool uses a specially adapted version of Google’s Gemini AI model, fine-tuned to deliver smarter voice interactions. It combines the model’s capabilities with Google Search’s information infrastructure to provide real-time spoken responses.

Using a technique called ‘query fan-out’, the system retrieves a wide range of web content, helping users discover more varied and relevant information.

The new mode is particularly useful when multitasking or on the go. Users can tap a ‘Live’ icon in the Google app and ask spoken queries like how to keep clothes from wrinkling in a suitcase.

Follow-up questions are handled just as naturally, and related links are displayed on-screen, letting users read more without breaking their flow.

To use the feature, users can tap a sparkle-shaped waveform icon under the Search bar or next to the search field. Once activated, a full-screen interface appears with voice control options and a scrolling list of relevant links.

Even with the phone locked or other apps open, the feature keeps running. A mute button, transcript view, and voice style settings—named Cassini, Cosmo, Neso, and Terra—offer additional control over the experience.

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Microsoft to cut thousands more jobs in July amid AI focus

Microsoft is preparing to lay off thousands more employees next month, primarily in sales teams, as it continues to shift focus toward AI.

The move follows May’s workforce reduction of 6,000 employees, about 3% of its staff, and reflects broader restructuring efforts rather than individual performance issues.

Sources cited by Bloomberg revealed that the next wave of job cuts is likely to begin in early July, following the end of Microsoft’s fiscal year. Although details may still change, internal teams across departments are expected to be impacted, with sales employees taking the largest hit.

The cuts come as Microsoft seeks to streamline operations while investing heavily in data centres and AI infrastructure.

CEO Satya Nadella previously explained that the recent layoffs were not due to poor performance but part of an organisational realignment.

During a company town hall, he stressed the emotional weight of the decision but reiterated that the cuts were necessary to reflect evolving business priorities, especially around AI.

Earlier in April, Microsoft announced that it would rely more on third-party partners to manage software sales for smaller customers.

With tens of billions of dollars allocated to AI development, executives have promised to control spending in other areas, which includes reducing staff in traditional roles like sales and marketing.

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AI pioneer warns of mass job losses

Geoffrey Hinton, often called the godfather of AI, has warned that the technology could soon trigger mass unemployment, particularly in white-collar roles. In a recent podcast interview, he said AI will eventually replace most forms of intellectual labour.

According to Hinton, jobs requiring basic reasoning or clerical tasks will be the first to go, with AI performing the work of multiple people. He expressed concern that call centre workers may already be vulnerable, while roles requiring physical skills, like plumbing, remain safer for now.

Hinton challenged the common belief that AI will create more jobs than it eliminates. He argued that unless someone has highly specialised expertise, they may find themselves outpaced by machines capable of learning and performing cognitive tasks.

He also criticised OpenAI’s recent corporate restructuring, saying the shift towards a profit-driven model risks sidelining the public interest. Hinton, alongside other critics including Elon Musk, warned that the changes could divert AI development from its original mission of serving humanity.

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Amazon restructures around AI, cuts expected

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has signalled that more job cuts are likely as the company embraces AI to streamline its operations. In a letter to staff, he said the adoption of generative AI is driving major shifts in roles, especially within corporate functions.

Jassy described generative AI as a once-in-a-lifetime technology and highlighted its growing role across Amazon services, including Alexa+, shopping tools and logistics. He pointed to smarter assistants and improved fulfilment systems as early benefits of AI investments.

While praising the efficiency gains AI delivers, Jassy admitted some roles will no longer be needed, and others will be redefined. The long-term outcome remains uncertain, but fewer corporate roles are expected as AI adoption continues.

He encouraged staff to embrace the technology by learning, experimenting and contributing to AI-related innovations. Workshops and team brainstorming were recommended as Amazon looks to reinvent itself with leaner, more agile teams.

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Canva rolls out text-to-video tool for creators

Canva has launched a new tool powered by Google’s Veo 3 model, allowing users to generate short cinematic video clips using simple text prompts. Known as ‘Create a Video Clip’, the feature produces eight-second videos with sound directly inside the Canva platform.

This marks one of the first commercial uses of Veo 3, which debuted last month. The AI tool is available to Canva Pro, Teams, Enterprise and Nonprofit users, who can generate up to five clips per month initially.

Danny Wu, Canva’s head of AI products, said the feature simplifies video creation with synchronised dialogue, sound effects and editing options. Users can integrate the clips into presentations, social media designs or other formats via Canva’s built-in video editor.

Canva is also extending the tool to users of Leonardo.Ai, a related image generation service. The feature is protected by Canva Shield, a content moderation and indemnity framework aimed at enterprise-level security and trust.

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AI helps Google curb scams and deepfakes in India

Google has introduced its Safety Charter for India to combat rising online fraud, deepfakes and cybersecurity threats. The charter outlines a collaborative plan focused on user safety, responsible AI development and protection of digital infrastructure.

AI-powered measures have already helped Google detect 20 times more scam-related pages, block over 500 million scam messages monthly, and issue 2.5 billion suspicious link warnings. Its ‘Digikavach’ programme has reached over 177 million Indians with fraud prevention tools and awareness campaigns.

Google Pay alone averted financial fraud worth ₹13,000 crore in 2024, while Google Play Protect stopped nearly 6 crore high-risk app installations. These achievements reflect the company’s ‘AI-first, secure-by-design’ strategy for early threat detection and response.

The tech giant is also collaborating with IIT-Madras on post-quantum cryptography and privacy-first technologies. Through language models like Gemini and watermarking initiatives such as SynthID, Google aims to build trust and inclusion across India’s digital ecosystem.

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AI in cardiology: 3D heart scan could cut waiting times

A new AI-powered heart test could significantly improve early detection of cardiovascular disease, especially in high-risk patients without symptoms.

Developed in Germany and evaluated in a UK study led by Dr Simon Rudland, the Cardisio test uses five electrodes—four on the chest, one on the back—to record 3D heart data. Unlike a traditional 2D ECG, this method captures electrical signals in more dimensions and uses AI to analyse rhythm, structure, and blood flow.

The quick 10-minute test returns a colour-coded result: green (normal), amber (borderline), or red (high risk). The study, published in BJGP Open, tested 628 individuals and found a positive predictive accuracy of 80% and a negative accuracy of 90.4%, with fewer than 2% test failures.

Dr Rudland called the findings ‘exciting,’ noting that the technology could streamline referrals, improve diagnosis in primary care, and reduce hospital waiting lists. He added that a pilot rollout may begin soon in Suffolk or north Essex, targeting high-risk women.

AI’s ability to process complex cardiac data far exceeds human capacity, making it a promising tool in preventative medicine. This research supports the NHS’s broader push to integrate AI for faster, smarter healthcare.

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Is AI distorting our view of the Milky Way’s black hole?

A new AI model has created a fresh image of Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the centre of our galaxy, suggesting it is spinning close to its maximum speed.

The model was trained on noisy data from the Event Horizon Telescope, a globe-spanning network of radio telescopes, using information once dismissed due to atmospheric interference.

Researchers believe this AI-enhanced image shows the black hole’s rotational axis pointing towards Earth, offering potential insights into how radiation and matter behave near such cosmic giants.

By using previously considered unusable data, scientists hope to improve our understanding of black hole dynamics.

However, not all physicists are confident in the results.

Nobel Prize-winning astrophysicist Reinhard Genzel has voiced concern over the reliability of models built on compromised data, stressing that AI should not be treated as a miracle fix. He warned that the new image might be distorted due to the poor quality of its underlying information.

The researchers plan to test their model against newer and more reliable data to address these concerns. Their goal is to refine the AI further and provide more accurate simulations of black holes in the future.

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Deepfake technology fuels new harassment risks

A growing threat of AI-generated media is reshaping workplace harassment, with deepfakes used to impersonate colleagues and circulate fabricated explicit content in the US. Recent studies found that almost all deepfakes were sexually explicit by 2023, often targeting women.

Organisations risk liability under existing laws if deepfake incidents create hostile work environments. New legislation like the TAKE IT DOWN Act and Florida’s Brooke’s Law now mandates rapid removal of non-consensual intimate imagery.

Employers are also bracing for proposed rules requiring strict authentication of AI-generated evidence in legal proceedings. Industry experts advise an urgent review of harassment and acceptable use policies, clear incident response plans and targeted training for HR, legal and IT teams.

Protective measures include auditing insurance coverage for synthetic media claims and staying abreast of evolving state and federal regulations. Forward-looking employers already embed deepfake awareness into their harassment prevention and cybersecurity training to safeguard workplace dignity.

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T-Mobile launches priority network for emergency services

T-Mobile is expanding its support for emergency response teams by combining 5G, AI and drone technologies to boost disaster recovery operations. Its T-Priority service, launched last year, offers dedicated network slices to ensure fast, low-latency data access during crises.

US first responders in disaster-hit regions like Southern California and North Carolina have already used the system to operate body cams, traffic monitoring tools and mapping systems. T-Mobile deployed hundreds of 5G routers and hotspot devices to aid efforts during the Palisades wildfire and Hurricanes.

AI and drone technologies are key in reconnaissance, damage assessment and real-time communication. T-Mobile’s self-organising network adapts to changing conditions using live data, ensuring stable connectivity throughout emergency operations.

Public-private collaboration is central to the initiative, with T-Mobile working alongside FEMA, the Department of Defense and local emergency centres. The company has also signed a major deal to provide New York City with a dedicated public safety network.

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